Free Never Enough by Joe McGinniss Page A

Holden wrote that the film was a graphic demonstration of how “sex, especially reckless adulterous sex, can rock people’s lives and have catastrophic consequences.”
    Nancy identified with the Diane Lane character, a beautiful, affluent, and seemingly content suburban housewife who felt a void where passion should have been. Another man, whom she met by chance in New York City, filled the void to overflowing.
    “ That’s why people have affairs,” Nancy said.
    The movie plays out with the husband learning of the affair and killing the lover. Then he must dispose of the body. First, he must carry it out of the apartment undetected. He rolls it up inside a carpet and carries the carpet away. He doesn’t get caught.

    That summer at Stratton was even more contentious than usual. Bill had sold the original family house, so he and his lady friend had to stay either with Andrew and Hayley, which tended to be explosive, or in the condo that Rob and Nancy and the three children and Connie were living in as renovations continued on their house.
    Andrew’s behavior was more erratic than ever. The others were convinced that cocaine and alcohol abuse were the causes. Hayley advanced the theory that Andrew suffered from bipolar disease and needed therapy and medication. Bill scoffed at this. He told Andrew to his face that he’d always been a worthless embarrassment to the family and told Hayley she’d made a mistake in marrying him, besides which she’d made a fool out of herself on MSNBC the previous week by recommending Bally’s and Six Flags, and that she should have worn more makeup. He also said she should have married Rob, so Rob wouldn’t have been stuck with a waitress for a wife. Rob defended Andrew and Nancy, causing Bill to turn on him. Nancy told Bill that no matter how many bedrooms they’d have in the new house there would never be one for him. Andrew told Rob he didn’t need his little brother sticking up for him, and he told Bill to go fuck himself because he’d already made $20 million from dealing in New Jersey real estate and now Hanrock—in which Bill had no part—was expanding into New York and Connecticut. Hayley blamed Bill for Andrew’s problems. Nancy told Hayley she’d overpaid for the new sofa, besides which the color clashed with the wallpaper. Andrew poured himself another drink and told them they were all pathetic and stormed upstairs. Bill poured himself another drink and took the family dog into the study and slammed the door shut. Bill’s lady friend told the others they should try harder to get along. Hayley told Nancy it was a shame her new diet wasn’t working. Rob slammed his fist on the table, then stood and stalked out to the porch. And that was only one dinner.

    The Kissels—except for Jane and her husband, Richard, who was a prince of a fellow—seemed prisoners of their own masochistic dysfunction. Even living in Hong Kong, Rob and Nancy got swallowed up by it every summer and every Christmas vacation. For Christmas of 2002 they descended on the British Columbia ski resort at Whistler Mountain. It offered the highest lift-serviced vertical slopes in North America, and the two-bedroom deluxe suite at the Four Seasons was only $2,950 per night. Rob and Nancy brought the kids, but not Connie. When they arrived, Ethan was sick with aches, chills, and a fever.
    Nancy said she’d stay with Ethan while the others skied. This annoyed Rob. He accused her of snubbing the rest of the family. The hotel could arrange for someone to stay with Ethan, he pointed out. Nancy said no. At least during the day, she was going to stay in the room with Ethan. Assuming the hotel could send someone up for a couple of hours in the evening, she’d join them for dinner.
    For the next two nights, Nancy sat at the large dinner table and listened to the others bicker. She didn’t feel like talking to any of them. In particular, she didn’t feel like talking to Rob. Their mutual hostility was a new